<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEETS AND INCOME  STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
     ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                              21,938
<SECURITIES>                                        20,301
<RECEIVABLES>                                       38,632
<ALLOWANCES>                                           966
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   123,732
<PP&E>                                             102,419
<DEPRECIATION>                                      59,923
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     225,948
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               35,180
<BONDS>                                                 26
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               147
<OTHER-SE>                                         184,408
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       225,948
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   219,297
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       93,935
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    94,312
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       (47)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      54
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     33,719
<INCOME-TAX>                                        13,926
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 19,793
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        19,793
<EPS-BASIC>                                           1.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.36